After last season’s wantaways undoubtedly playing a part in Celtic’s season unravelling, and after threatening initially to impact on this one too, it is refreshing to hear of a player not take the Kris Ajer approach to International windows and talk to the press in their homeland about their wish to be allowed to leave their Celtic prison.
Spaeking to Sportske whilst on international duty with Croatia, Josip Juranovic couldn’t have made it any clearer, that although aware of the same transfer rumours we are – such as Fabrizio Romano’s claims Leicester City are keen on Celtic’s right back – he’s not using the opportunity to be away from the club momentarily as a chance to fan the flames of those transfer rumours, instead Juranovic insists –
“Celtic is a great club. I enjoy it from the first day, I go to training with a smile, I enjoy the club, the city, the fans. Transfer? There are always some stories, but I leave that to my manager, I am at Celtic with all my heart.”
As a group of supporters, we are a realistic bunch when it comes to our foreign imports. We realise the club is big enough to attract a good player, but we also realise that financially we’re unlikely to be able to compete with the money on offer in Europe’s big leagues long-term, and if you are good enough to attract interest then you are likely to move on at some stage.
All we ask in the interim is you embrace what you have, give your all, and are open and honest with the support – and preferably don’t bad mouth the club while you are on international duty in the hope of flushing out further interest in your talents.
Josip Juranovic has been a superb signing, he’s clearly a talented player, has been a key performer this year, and appears to have embraced both the style of play and love from the stands. My word he even plays with a smile on his face and a perfect sense of devilment in his play. You can’t help but be won over by Juranovic.
Celtic, however, won a watch in securing his services for as little as £2.5m. We also know our custodian’s business model is to use Celtic to increase that value and make a tidy profit, but all of that can and will come in time. In the meantime, it’s great to hear Josip Juranovic use an international window to celebrate what he has at Celtic where others have taken the opportunity to engineer their exits.
Niall J
